Chapter 6: First Day : The Border

AN: During Laura's flashback, the music I suggest is "Sora", from Escaflowne. In the FF dot net version, the e-mail addresses in the last part are replaced by usernames. Boy, is this ever a problem...!

The next morning, a bit before dawn, Marissa woke up…and found herself in a hospital bed.

At first, she panicked, thinking that in the night, she had gotten sick or something…before she looked to her right.

On a similar bed, Devon was sleeping. He was still pale, yet not as bad as it had been before Rodrigo had administered his herbal mixture the previous night.

Oh yeah…father's been poisoned.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she heard another familiar voice, a cocky, male teenager's tone.

She looked about and found Jack sitting with her.

"You sure took your time going to sleep," he continued, "Devon nearly called for Dr. Alpert and ask him to slip something in some water."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Not one bit," he replied, "Oh yeah…Bonnie left for FLAG HQ shortly after you finally conked out. I made a phone call to some old friends. Some bodyguards will be coming in a little while."

"Don't you think that's a little much?"

"Nope. Riss, those goons that poisoned your dad aren't going to be satisfied until they finish the job on him and off you. Once they find out about me and about Bonnie knowing, they'll kill us, too. We're going to need guards, and the kind that can be discreet when they have to be."

"Does father know about the bodyguards?"

"Yeah…but I didn't tell him who they were. They said they'd be here later this morning, but didn't say when."

"Are they who I think they are?"

The teenager grinned as he replied, "Bingo."

She smiled and said, "It'll be nice to see them again…I just hope father doesn't chase them away."

"Chase who away?"

At the voice, both youngsters turned towards the hospital bed…and saw Devon, who was trying to sit up.

Jack walked quickly to him and caught his arm as he was about to fall back into a flat position, then helped him sit up.

"Whoa, careful, sir," he said quietly, "Tio Rodrigo said you'd try that. The medicine will last 7 days, but if you exert yourself way too much, it'll wear off sooner. That's from him, too."

"You okay, father?" Marissa asked, "Do you remember what happened?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," he replied, "And I do remember…Rissie, have you heard anything yet?"

She shook her head, "No…but the bodyguards should be here later this morning."

"Yes," he asked, "Just who are they? Jack only said that they're old friends."

"Um…you'll see."

000000000000000

"Michael…Michael!"

Michael heard Kitt's voice and, out of instinct, quickly fought towards wakefulness.

"Yeah…what is it?"

"We're approaching the U.S.-Mexico border in 5 minutes. I suggest you wake the other two."

"Ya got it, pal," he replied, then reached back, shaking Laura's arm.

"Mmm…yo quiero dormir…ahora no…" she mumbled.

Michael, who knew the language, laughed and said, "Señorita…es mañana! Buenos dias!"

Laura blinked, then rubbed her eyes, yawning. "What's goin' on…?"

"Get your dad up. We're approaching the border soon."

"I'm more of a light sleeper than you think, señor," a voice, thick with Mexican accent, replied with a reproachful tone, "Comes with being on the run from MAGE."

Michael nodded and said, "Okay, time for Phase 1. You two pipe down and let me do the talking. Kitt picked this spot to border-cross for a good reason."

The two nodded and merely looked ahead.

Twelve years, Rodrigo thought, Laurita was three when she and I came to America. I remember like it was yesterday…

I don't remember much of what Mexico look like anymore, Laura thought, But one of my earliest memories was when we were in the city…

00000

Even at 4 years old, Laurine…or Laurita, could already do things…like talk (though in the way that little children speak), walk, run…even act. Some things, her Papá would frown at…if he knew.

They had managed to cross the border into America about a year ago…and things hadn't gotten much better, regardless of what was promised. He couldn't find work that lasted beyond a week at most, what he did earn couldn't get much in the way of anything, including food…and she was almost always hungry.

Today, she had gone from the small, rundown apartment…down a few streets, planning on going to the back of one of the fancier restaurants, looking for any scraps that places like that tended to throw out…when she saw him.

A man with fancily styled reddish-brown hair that was starting to change to silver. From the 3-piece suit clothing, he looked like one of those uppity, better-than-thou people that looked down on anyone that was worse-off. His face, though, was very confusing. It seemed to mix something that fit an "uppity", but at the same time, the look on it was…almost…kind? Then again, she had never seen a look of kindness on anyone's face…except for Papá. At the moment, he had been taking something from a pocket…something that she knew grown-ups valued a lot.

Just yesterday, an older kid from her neighborhood had taught her how to help her father…by bumping into someone and taking things from certain pockets. She had even told Laurita that this little trick would help her get more food. The girl, Lisa, even had the child practice a few times on herself.

I hope Lisa's right, she thought, took a deep breath, then acted as though she was distracted…and ran right into him, bringing both of them falling to the ground.

"Bloody…! I say, watch where you're going!"she heard from the man. His voice was strange…clipped at times, with an odd accent.

"Sowwy," she said, as she practiced. Her Mexican accent made the word sound a little mangled. As she groaned, she saw the item near her leg, picked it up, and put it in the torn, dirty, brown dress' only pocket.

The man got up, then helped the little child to her feet.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"S-Si," she replied, "I better get home. Sowwy again!" then took off, walking back the way she came…then as soon as she turned the corner, she nearly ran back to the apartment.

As soon as she got there, she looked at the sign that was in front of the place, still puzzled…she could read a little, but the sign's words were beyond her.

This building is condemned.

She carefully opened the door, like she had learned to do, and called out, "Papa…I'm back."

The front main room was mostly empty, except for old scraps of blankets and some food in a little cabinet. It was in this place that Papá was sitting near a window…looking more upset than normal.

"Papá?"

He looked up and signed, before he said, "Laurita…I wonder…did I do the right thing…? Taking you out of Mexico? Which would be better…dying by their hands…or starving to death like this?"

"Um…Qué pasá? Qué no razón?"

He sighed again, and there was a tone of despair in his voice as he said, "I've been fired, Laurita…again. The owner of the gardening bookstore came back from a holiday…and got into a fight with the man that hired me. Señor Williams got fired, too…for hiring me without his permission."

She whimpered, then asked, "Job look again tomorrow?"

"I don't know if it'll do any good," he replied, "You haven't eaten in 3 days this time. If this keeps up…we'll both die soon enough. If only…I could find work that had to do with plants…even mowing lawns…"

"Papá…look what I found," she said, remembering the heavy weight, "My friend taught me how to look for treasure. I found some…enough to eat today."

He looked up and asked, "What is it?"

She took out the bundle and handed it to him.

His eyes widened as he examined it, inside and out. He then hissed and asked, "Laurita…where did you get it?"

"I got it from the street."

He shook his head and asked, "Laurine, tell me the truth. Did you take something that wasn't yours? Where did this come from?"

"From me, I believe," they heard from behind them.

Both turned and saw the strange uppity she had gotten it from.

"I ran into her a few streets away…and in the confusion, she stole my wallet. I followed her back here."

Papá looked at her, a very angry expression on her face. "Laurine!"

"Papá, I didn't steal it…Lisa taught me how to look for treasure, and I found it! That's truth!"

"Lisa…Lisa taught you…?" he roared, "I told you to stay away from that girl!" He then turned to the older uppity and said, "Lo siento—I mean, I'm very sorry, señor. Rest assured, she will be punished." He then looked at her and said, "Laurine, give it back to him."

"But…if I do, we'll die!"

"I'd rather starve to death than use stolen money to feed us. Return the man's wallet, now!"

She sighed in a way that was just like her Papá, one of despair, knowing that things would never get better now, then gave the uppity his item back.

"Thank you," he replied, then put it back. After making sure it was back in his pocket, he asked, "Pardon me for saying, but I happened to overhear your conversation…do the two of you live here?"

"Si," her father said, "We can't live anywhere else…and any money that we do get…honestly, mind you, I don't accept anything stolen…goes to buy what little food we can."

"Good heavens," he exclaimed, "Have things always been like this? What in the world could have happened to cause your own daughter to resort to theft?"

The two looked at each other, "haunted, hunted" expressions seeming permanent, as well as hopelessness.

Her father then said, "It's a long story, señor…but if you'll pull up some floor, I'll tell it to you."

"I'll stand, thank you, but I will listen."

"Papá," she said, "It's…dan…geer…ous!"

"What choice do I have, Laurita…? Dying at their hands in Mexico or starving here…? At least someone here will know what happened to us."

She nodded and looked out the window while her father told the strange uppity all about themselves. Papá had been an herbalist in Mexico, and her mother was a farmer. When Laurine was born, some very nasty people had found out about the family…and about a very special lineage…the reason why their last name was Mariz…and why her Papá was so talented with herbs. When she was two, the nasty people had killed her mother and tried to do the same to her and her father. The father and daughter had been on the run for a year before they managed to get a little help from friends, so that they could legally disappear into America, to the north.

The uppity man listened quietly to the entire thing.

Once the story was completed, the strange man then said, "Mr. Mariz—"

"Rodrigo, señor."

"I work for an organization that helps people that are in trouble…as well as puts away criminals who operate above the law. It just so happens that we're looking for a groundskeeper for our headquarters."

Rodrigo looked dazed…almost disbelieving, as if he were dreaming.

"S-Señor…are you saying…?"

The uppity nodded, continuing, "It's decent pay, plus you and your daughter would be living in your own place on the grounds…certainly nothing like this condemned building you're in now…and neither of you would ever go hungry again. And if you want, you can even grow your herbs there."

Rodrigo blinked, "This…this is a dream, isn't it?"

"I assure you, we're all wide awake."

"You're sure…? Wouldn't you get in trouble or fired over us…?"

"I'm quite sure. There won't be any trouble."

Laurita looked at her father, barely daring to hope…then smiled.

"When can we start, señ—sir?"

"Right away. I can take you two there now…as soon as we see to some better clothes and a meal for each of you."

Rodrigo looked at his little girl and asked, "What do you say, Laurita?"

She smiled and said, "Gracias, señor--!" She then asked, "Um…what's your name?"

The uppity…no, kind man, smiled and replied, "My name is Devon…Devon Miles."

00000

Both father and daughter shook themselves out of memory as they saw Kitt slow, and then stop at a checkpoint.

"Buenos dias, señor…" the guard at the checkpoint greeted, then looked inside the vehicle.

The two other passengers held their breath, then the older man grinned.

"Rodrigo? Rodrigo Mariz, is that you?" the guard asked, sounding pleasantly surprised.

"Miguel! Sí, it's me."

"Gracias a los Dios you're still alive," Miguel replied, "I know Señor Knight from more than one border crossing…but what in the world brings you back to Mexico?"

"Nuestro jefe, Devon Miles, was poisoned," Rodrigo replied, "By the enemy."

The guard spat on the ground in disgust and replied, "Hijos de perras...! That means you'll have to go back to your old house."

"Sí."

Miguel nodded and replied, "The entire area's under MAGE control, as well as everything in a 50 mile radius. There'll still some comrades inside the town near your house that'll help you…but you're going to have to be very discreet." He added to Michael, "More than you've ever been, Señor Knight."

"I'll keep that in mind," Michael replied in a serious tone.

Miguel nodded, then said, "Tenga cuidado. Buena suerte, camaradas."

"Gracias," Michael and Rodrigo replied.

As soon as the gatepost lifted, the Trans-Am rolled onwards…into the country of Mexico.

Michael said, irritated, "I thought I said for you two to pipe down and let me do the talking."

"Sorry, Michael, but I know him."

"So I see. How do you know him, anyway?"

"He's my brother-in-law," Rodrigo answered, "He helped us escape into America twelve years ago."

Michael nodded quietly, then said, "Kitt, Phase 2. Switch the plates, then send an e-mail message to Marissa. Let her and the others what's happened up to now. Also, compute how long it'll take to get to Rodrigo's old house and back and put that in, too."

"Right away."

000000000000000

Marissa walked over to the computer that was set up in the hospital room. Both father and daughter had found hospital breakfast distasteful (It wasn't Devon's type, and Marissa thought it was made out of cardboard).

"Anything yet, poppet?"

After a moment, she shook her head and replied, "Nothing yet, father. What time is it on the border, do you think?"

"The same as it is here. If you remember, California's southern state line also serves as the northern border of Mexico."

"Oh, yeah…sorry, I just have a lot on my mind."

"As do I, Rissie…but we will get through this. Michael, Laura and Rodigo will get the antidote, with plenty of time to spare."

"And in the meantime, all we gotta do is keep in touch and stay alive."

"Precisely." Devon sighed, then said, "Rissie, I'm sorry…"

"For what?"

"No normal child grows up in circumstances like yours…with danger and mayhem as part of everyday life…none should."

She shook her head, replying, "Father, if you're regretting taking me in or adopting me, don't. My mom's dead, but I've got you as a father, Michael as a brother, Bonnie as a big sister…and even though there're a lot of kids I'm friends with at the Foundation, Kitty's the first and best friend I ever had. Yeah, it's not the normal life, but…you know? I wouldn't have it any other way."

His eyes widened as he asked, quietly, "Even though it means constantly guarding your life…? Or that being put into danger…?"

"Yeah, even though."

Devon was quiet for a moment, before he said, "Come here, Rissie…"

She got up and walked to the bed, then sat beside him on it.

The Englishman looked at her with affection, as well as pride, before he hugged her tightly. She hugged him back.

"Rissie…I…" He took a deep breath, pulled back enough to look at her and tried again to express emotion into words. "I…I love—"

"It's okay," she said with a little, enigmatic smile, "You don't need to tell me. I already know it."

He looked relieved, but he thought, Someday, I won't have any trouble telling you that I love you, poppet.

"Hey, you two," they heard from the door, "How're you holding up after the cardboard—I mean breakfast?"

Before Devon could say anything, the little girl replied, "That stuff? We ate a bit and threw the rest out."

"Rissie!" he exclaimed reproachfully.

The person at the door, Bonnie, laughed at the scene as she came in, holding a long, red jacket in her hands, then said, "Hey kiddo, take the jacket, will you? My hands are full."

"Um, ok, but what're they full with?" she replied as her father let go, then she got up and walked over to the technician.

"You'll see as soon as you take it."

Marissa nodded and carefully picked the clothing up, following a hunch…and uncovered a styrofoam container. In a sealed drink container was something hot.

She sniffed, then said, "Something smells—"

"Shh! Quiet, ok?" Bonnie asked.

"Yeah, dudette," RC3 said, coming in behind her, "No need to let the staff know everythin'." He too, was carrying a jacket in his hands.

Bonnie put the container on a tray, then put it in front of Devon.

"Dare I ask what this is?" he asked.

"Open it and see."

The Englishman did just that…and his eyes widened as he saw what was inside.

Inside the container was Eggs Benedict with crumpets, not toast, and they were most certainly hot. In a couple of small containers were butter, not margarine, and in the cup, he could tell from the scent, was hot, black coffee.

"You remembered…but how—" he asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Got it from the headquarters," she quickly replied as RC had Marissa sit down at the table, then put her containers in front of her.

In the second container were pancakes with blueberry syrup, sausages and hot crumpets, with some butter. In her drink container was orange juice.

"Aww…thanks guys," she said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you both," Devon agreed, "The food they serve here is ghastly."

There was a beep coming from the computer. Marissa excused herself and checked it, while RC closed the container for her.

After a moment, she gasped, then said, "Father, guys…there's something here!"

To: dmiles (e-mail address disclosed)
From: kitt (e-mail address disclosed)
Subject: To Rissie (Progress 1)

Rissie,

Read this message to your father and any others there, please.

Michael, Laura, Rodrigo and I arrived at the Mexico border 10.5 minutes ago. We chose the spot that we have had the least amount of trouble getting through. We had a little surprise, in the form of the border guardsman being related to Rodrigo.

We are now currently en route for Rodrigo's old residence. Due to the factors, such as the fact that the destination is within enemy territory and Devon's condition, we are taking a mostly direct route. We should arrive at the residence in 2 days. Once we pick up the antidote, it will take us 2 days to get back. Once we cross the border again, we should be back with a few hours to spare before the point of no return happens.

I have some messages: Laura says to tell Jack to do what he has to in order to protect everyone that is at the hospital room. Rodrigo says to tell Devon not to exert himself a great deal, or the preventative will wear off sooner. Michael says for you, poppet, to take care of your father.

We will get the antidote and save his life, I promise you that.

I love you, Rissie.

Kitty.